The Lancashire Archives, previously known as the Lancashire Record Office, is a county record office located in the city of Preston which serves Lancashire, England. It was established in 1940.
In 1808 the Lancashire Justices first took an interest in the records, ordering the Clerk of the Peace to "arrange the Public Records in his office in such a manner as to him shall appear to be the most proper, for their preservation and utility". In 1879, the Justices obtained an Act of Parliament allowing them to build offices for "county business". This included a room for keeping the county records. Sessions House was built in 1903 with rooms for documents in it.[1]
In December 1937, the Preston and mid-Lancashire branch of the Historical Association sent a petition to Lancashire County Council, asking whether the council could "sanction and establish a depository for documents of local interest". A committee was set up to investigate the situation.[1]
Commencement
In May 1940, the Lancashire Record Office was established as the county record office for Lancashire. In November 1940, the Master of the Rolls recognised the Lancashire Record Office as a manorial repository. The first deposit to the Archives came from the Fylde Historical and Antiquarian Society.[1]
Lancashire County Council appointed Reginald Sharpe France as the first County Archivist; from 1947 he also taught on the Diploma in Archive Administration at the University of Liverpool, establishing a link between the record office and the university.[2]
Sharpe France worked alone until 1941, when an unqualified assistant was appointed. Due to World War II, there were almost no enquiries for documents or searchers – only 66 visitors are recorded in 1940, and 90 in 1941. Sharpe France and his assistant could acquire documents and catalogue them without interruption.[1]
Guide to the Lancashire Record Office was first published in 1948.[3] In 1950, the archives held an exhibition for their 10th anniversary, opened by Earl Peel, on March 15–18 March at the county office in Preston. Around 2000 visitors attended it.[4]
Sharpe France remained County Archivist until the 1970s.
Sessions House
Sessions House, Preston
As visitors increased and as more documents were taken in, a strain began to develop on the archives. In 1960, the archives moved to larger premises in the Sessions House.[5] In 1963, the first archaeologist, Ben Edwards, was appointed.[6]
However, in October 1966 minutes of the County Records Sub-Committee noted the need for more accommodation – the strongrooms were likely to fill up in a year. The archives could not accommodate all the visitors comfortably. There was no private accommodation for staff and refreshments had to be taken in the repairer's room. The repair room was too small, meaning big maps could not be repaired. Bookshelves were overflowing. All this led to the need to build a new record office.[7]
Bow Lane
Register Office building in Bow Lane, Preston
In 1975, the archives moved to a new purpose-built building for the archives in Bow Lane in Preston. The official opening, by Lord Clitheroe, was held on 31 October. Two special exhibitions were held at the archives to commemorate this event.[8]
In 1976 John Keith Bishop was appointed as the new County Archivist. The archives also launched a job-creation scheme, employing seven people in 1976.[9] In 1979, Ken Hall was appointed as County Archivist.
In 1986, the Friends of Lancashire Archives was formed. An independent organisation and registered charity, the FLA was set up to promote and support the archives. The FLA put on activities for members, including talks and training opportunities, as well as walks and social events. Over the years the FLA has raised over £75,000 for the archives. According to their website, they are currently funding a cataloguing programme for the archives.[10] The first president of the FLA was Lord Lieutenant Mr Simon Towneley.[11]
Later on, in 1989, the Lancashire County Council gave the archives a go-ahead to introduce computers into their work. This was made possible by the Hope Floyd Bequest fund, a fund set up in 1973 after the death of Thomas Hope Floyd. A location index was available on computers, and the issuing and returning of documents in the search room was much quicker. At a cost of £21,530, this helped the archives deliver a quicker, better service.[12]
In 1993, Bruce Jackson was appointed as County Archivist.
References
^ abcdArticle written by R. Sharpe France, 1952 for ARCHIVES, No.7, in the Lancashire Archives, LCC 968
^Shepherd, Elizabeth (2009). "Archives and archivists in 20th century England". Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 97, 110. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
^R. Sharpe France, Guide to the Lancashire Record Office (Preston: Lancashire County Council, 1948)
^17 April 1950, Minute Book of the Records Sub-Committee, in the Lancashire Archives, CC/FVM/1
^Lancashire Record Office Reports Volume 1: 1951–60, page 273
^Lancashire Record Office Reports Volume 2: 1960–66, 1963, page 3
^17 October 1966, Minute Book of the Records Sub-Committee, in the Lancashire Archives, CC/FVM/1
^Lancashire Record Office Reports 1967–1975, 1975, p.3
^Lancashire Record Office Reports 1976-1980, 1976, p.3
^"About us - Friends of Lancashire Archives". Flarchives.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^Documents from the organisation of the 50th Anniversary of the Archives, in the Lancashire Archives, LCC/1043
^Newspaper cuttings of various dates, in the Lancashire Archives, LCC 887
Further reading
France, R. Sharpe (1962) "The Lancashire Record Office"; Frangopulo, N. J., ed. Rich Inheritance: a guide to the history of Manchester. Manchester: Manchester Education Committee; pp. 272-79
External links
Lancashire Archives
LANCAT, the online catalogue to records
Friends of the Lancashire Archives
Lancashire Record Office
March 03, 2023
lancashire, archives, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, tem. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Lancashire Archives news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Lancashire Archives previously known as the Lancashire Record Office is a county record office located in the city of Preston which serves Lancashire England It was established in 1940 Lancashire ArchivesGeneral informationCreation1940LocationCountryEnglandCityPrestonAddressBow Lane Preston Lancashire PR1 2RECoordinates53 45 30 N 2 42 40 W 53 758375478968404 N 2 711186811240743 W 53 758375478968404 2 711186811240743WebsiteLibraries and ArchivesMap Contents 1 Early history 2 Commencement 3 Sessions House 4 Bow Lane 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly history EditIn 1808 the Lancashire Justices first took an interest in the records ordering the Clerk of the Peace to arrange the Public Records in his office in such a manner as to him shall appear to be the most proper for their preservation and utility In 1879 the Justices obtained an Act of Parliament allowing them to build offices for county business This included a room for keeping the county records Sessions House was built in 1903 with rooms for documents in it 1 In December 1937 the Preston and mid Lancashire branch of the Historical Association sent a petition to Lancashire County Council asking whether the council could sanction and establish a depository for documents of local interest A committee was set up to investigate the situation 1 Commencement EditIn May 1940 the Lancashire Record Office was established as the county record office for Lancashire In November 1940 the Master of the Rolls recognised the Lancashire Record Office as a manorial repository The first deposit to the Archives came from the Fylde Historical and Antiquarian Society 1 Lancashire County Council appointed Reginald Sharpe France as the first County Archivist from 1947 he also taught on the Diploma in Archive Administration at the University of Liverpool establishing a link between the record office and the university 2 Sharpe France worked alone until 1941 when an unqualified assistant was appointed Due to World War II there were almost no enquiries for documents or searchers only 66 visitors are recorded in 1940 and 90 in 1941 Sharpe France and his assistant could acquire documents and catalogue them without interruption 1 Guide to the Lancashire Record Office was first published in 1948 3 In 1950 the archives held an exhibition for their 10th anniversary opened by Earl Peel on March 15 18 March at the county office in Preston Around 2000 visitors attended it 4 Sharpe France remained County Archivist until the 1970s Sessions House Edit Sessions House Preston As visitors increased and as more documents were taken in a strain began to develop on the archives In 1960 the archives moved to larger premises in the Sessions House 5 In 1963 the first archaeologist Ben Edwards was appointed 6 However in October 1966 minutes of the County Records Sub Committee noted the need for more accommodation the strongrooms were likely to fill up in a year The archives could not accommodate all the visitors comfortably There was no private accommodation for staff and refreshments had to be taken in the repairer s room The repair room was too small meaning big maps could not be repaired Bookshelves were overflowing All this led to the need to build a new record office 7 Bow Lane Edit Register Office building in Bow Lane Preston In 1975 the archives moved to a new purpose built building for the archives in Bow Lane in Preston The official opening by Lord Clitheroe was held on 31 October Two special exhibitions were held at the archives to commemorate this event 8 In 1976 John Keith Bishop was appointed as the new County Archivist The archives also launched a job creation scheme employing seven people in 1976 9 In 1979 Ken Hall was appointed as County Archivist In 1986 the Friends of Lancashire Archives was formed An independent organisation and registered charity the FLA was set up to promote and support the archives The FLA put on activities for members including talks and training opportunities as well as walks and social events Over the years the FLA has raised over 75 000 for the archives According to their website they are currently funding a cataloguing programme for the archives 10 The first president of the FLA was Lord Lieutenant Mr Simon Towneley 11 Later on in 1989 the Lancashire County Council gave the archives a go ahead to introduce computers into their work This was made possible by the Hope Floyd Bequest fund a fund set up in 1973 after the death of Thomas Hope Floyd A location index was available on computers and the issuing and returning of documents in the search room was much quicker At a cost of 21 530 this helped the archives deliver a quicker better service 12 In 1993 Bruce Jackson was appointed as County Archivist References Edit a b c d Article written by R Sharpe France 1952 for ARCHIVES No 7 in the Lancashire Archives LCC 968 Shepherd Elizabeth 2009 Archives and archivists in 20th century England Ashgate Publishing Ltd pp 97 110 Retrieved 6 July 2022 R Sharpe France Guide to the Lancashire Record Office Preston Lancashire County Council 1948 17 April 1950 Minute Book of the Records Sub Committee in the Lancashire Archives CC FVM 1 Lancashire Record Office Reports Volume 1 1951 60 page 273 Lancashire Record Office Reports Volume 2 1960 66 1963 page 3 17 October 1966 Minute Book of the Records Sub Committee in the Lancashire Archives CC FVM 1 Lancashire Record Office Reports 1967 1975 1975 p 3 Lancashire Record Office Reports 1976 1980 1976 p 3 About us Friends of Lancashire Archives Flarchives co uk Retrieved 27 July 2016 Documents from the organisation of the 50th Anniversary of the Archives in the Lancashire Archives LCC 1043 Newspaper cuttings of various dates in the Lancashire Archives LCC 887Further reading EditFrance R Sharpe 1962 The Lancashire Record Office Frangopulo N J ed Rich Inheritance a guide to the history of Manchester Manchester Manchester Education Committee pp 272 79External links EditLancashire Archives LANCAT the online catalogue to records Friends of the Lancashire Archives Lancashire Record Office Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lancashire Archives amp oldid 1096843719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
